Pipe or hose coupling



June 17, 1941. J, F BAGBY PIPE 0R HOSE GOUPLING Filed June 22, 1939 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 my. fw M5 wf. fm M J @hm @SGM June 17, 1941- J. F. BAGBYV y 2,245,847

Y vPIPE OR HOSE COUPLING Filed June 22, 1939 2 Sheets-#Sheet 2 'lull/ll i12". I JQ/vffgan y f ENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patented June 17, 1941 UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE 4PIPE 0R HOSE COUPLING James F. Bagby, Houston, Tex.'

Application June 22, 1939, Serial No. 280,494

Claims.

The invention relates to an improvement in pipe or hose couplings'of the type which are quickly releasable.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a quickly releasable pipe or hose coupling which will be locked against inadverent release.

Another object of the invention is to provide -a pair of interiitting coupling members which can be moved longitudinally and then be automatically interlocked against separation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pipe or hose coupling which can be quick- 1y released but which is locked against release so long as there is fluid under pressure within the coupling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a safety lock for releasable couplings whereby the couplings cannot be released except when v I of hose or pipe.

Fig. 2 is an expanded view illustrating the manner of moving the connection members longitudinally to be assembled, the sections of hose' or pipe to be interconnected being attached to the members.

Figs. 3 and 4 are end elevations looking at the adjacent ends of the coupling members as viewed from the line 3-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig, 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the internal arrangement of the parts.

. Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the locking sleeve and pin construction on line E--E of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the latching sleeve.

Fig. 8 is an expanded view of an embodiment and is similar to the view shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the modif-led form.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through the embodiment shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 1li is a side elevation of the lower connecting member of the modified form.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line I2-I2 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line I3-I3 in Fig 9.

In Fig. 2 there is shown the coupling member i which may be connected .to a pipe or hose such as 2, and the cooperating coupling member 3 which may be connected to a pipe or hose 4.

The connecting member 3 is of tubular construction having a knurled surface 5 which may be readily grasped in order to connect and disconnect the coupling. An internal conduit portion 6 serves to conduct the fluid thru the-coupling and externally of this conduit 6 are the lugs 1. Two such lugs have been illustrated and they are inthe form of a neck 8 and a .head 9. The head has an inclined face I0 thereon which is arranged to perform a wedging action with the opposite coupling member. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the conduit Ii extends axially beyond the lugs 1. Each of the lugs has a stepped face II on the outer end thereof in order to latch the coupling together as will be hereinafter described.

The coupling member i is best seen in section in Fig. 5 and constitutes a tubular sleevelike member which is recessed internally to provide a shoulder I2 to receive a seal ring I3. The

tubular member extends beyond the ring I3 and has the retainer lugs I'I thereon which are arranged to in'teriit and are oppositely arranged as regards the lugs l. arranged to cooperate with the Wedge faces I0 in drawing the two coupling members together in a longitudinal direction. As the parts are in the position as in Fig. 2 they will be moved longitudinally until the lugv I'I passes beyond the lug I and then the members are turned so that the lugs will move in the interfitting position. As the wedging faces lll'and I8 move together the end 20 of the conduit 6 will be forced against the ring I3 .to compress it and form a seal so that the parts are firmly connected together and the seal is formed by the partial rotation.

It is desirable .to prevent the inadvertent release of the coupling members and with this in mind a sleeve 25 has been siidably mounted over the outside of the coupling member I. This sleeve is notched at 26 so as to interiit about the shank of the lugs I'I and so that it will be non-rotatable with respect to the coupling member I. A spring 2'I disposed inside of the sleeve is held in pl-ace by an adjustable ring 28 so that the sleeve is normally urged toward the coupling member 3.

The end of the sleeve is stepped at 29 with the steps facing in an opposite direction as compared with .the steps II on the lugs 1 so that when the coupling is assembled and turned to provide a tight connection the spring 21 automatically urges the sleeve 25 into latching position by causing the lugs Il and 29 to in-tert.

' In this manner the parts cannot be released'so The wedge faces I8 arelong as the sleeve remains in latching position. The ring 28 may lbe adjusted to provide any latching pressure desired.

In some types of construction and particularly where higher pressures are being conveyed by the pipe or hose, it is dangerous to release a connection of this sort while the pressure is in the pipe and within the coupling.

Fig.v6 shows a construction for preventing the inadvertent release of the device and its release while there is pressure on the coupling. This construction embodies a nipple 30 which is fixed in the coupling I and extends radially thru the coupling. This nipple 30 carries a pin 3l which is normally held in retracted position by a. spring 32. This pin has a plate 33 on its inner end which is exposed to pressure in the passage 34 thru the coupling. When pressure is present inside of the coupling this pin 3i will move radially outward into the opening 35 in the latching sleeve 25. The pin will thus prevent the latching sleeve from sliding movement and prevent the release of the stepped teeth 29 from the lugs 'L If the operator attempts to release the connection while pressure is present, he will be prevented from doing so because the sleeve 25 is locked against movement. When he releases the pressure the pin 3| will automatically move inward and unlock the latching sleeve 25. The sleeve can then be moved to release the coupling.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figs. 8 to 13, the conduit is provided with rod like projections 40 which are adapted to enter slots 4I in the upper member I. The projections 40 may enter the slots 4I a suflicient distance that the end 20 of the conduit 6 engages the ring I3 to effect a seal whereby a. continuous leak proof passage 34 thru the couplings is assured. 'I'he knurled sleeve 25 surrounds the memher II between an upwardly facing shoulder 42 and a threaded ring 43 at the upper end of the member I. This sleeve is angularly movable but such movement is limited by means of an elongated recess 44 in the sleeve 25 into which a small lug 45 on the member I projects.

A torsion spring 46 occupies a portion of the space between the sleeve 25 and the member' I and has its opposite ends anchored to these members. The sleeve 25 therefore tends to rotate in such direction that the face 45 in the recess 44 engages the lug 45.

When the sleeve 25 is rotated manually against the resistance of the spring 46 until the face 41 of the recess 44 engages the lug at 45 and slot 50 in the sleeve 25 is brought into alinement with the slot 4| in the coupling member I. 'I'he lower coupling member 3 may then be advanced until the prongs 40 engage the upper sloping surface I of the slot 50. If then the sleeve 2 5 be released the connecting member 3 will be moved upwardly until the end of the conduit S engages Athe ring I3. Constant torsion produced by the spring 45 causes the projections 40 to ride upon the lower surface of the slot and hence to wedgingly force the projections 40 upwardly so that the seal by the ring I3 between the members I and 3 will be effected.

The construction for preventing inadvertent release of the device while pressure exists therein is the same as that shown in the embodiment of Figs. l

to 6, the pin 3l being forced' upwardly under pressure to enter the opening 35 in the sleeve 25.-

Broadly the invention contemplates a quickly releasable coupling which will be automatically latched against release and which may be fur ther safe-guarded by being locked when the coupling is subjected to pressure.

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling of the character described comprising a pair of connection members, intertting means to interlock said members against longitudinal movement, sealing means between said members to be compressed when the members are interiitted, and movable means comprising a movable sleeve carried by one member and urged by an interposed spring to engage the other member to lock said members against rotational movement, and an additional means operable when the connection is subjected to internal fluid pressure to lock said movable means when the coupling is under pressure.

2. A coupling of the character described comprising a pair of connection members, interfltting means to interlock said members against longitudinal movement, sealing means between said members to be compressed when the members are interfltted, and movable means carried by one member to engage the other member to lock said members against rotational movement, and an additional means operable when the connection is subjected to internal fluid pressure to lock said movable means when the coupling is under pressure, said last mentioned means including a radially movable pin operable by pressure within the coupling to move outwardly and engage said movable means.

3. A pipe or hose coupling including a pair of interfltting members, interengaglng lugs on said members having wedging faces to draw said member together longitudinally, a sealing ring to be compressed by the wedging action, and additional means operable by fluid under pressure within said coupling to lock said members against release, said last means including a pressure respo'nsive member fixed to one of the interiitting members but movable radially thereof, and a locking sleeve engageable by said pressure responsive member.

4. A pipe or hose coupling including a pair of interiitting members, interengaging lugs on said members having wedging faces to draw said member together longitudinally, the lugs on one of said members having an axially facing stepped surface, a sealing ring to be compressed by the wedging action, and additional means operable by iluid under pressure within said coupling to lock said members against release, including a.

spring pressed sleeve, having a stepped end surface engageable with the stepped surface on said lugs to lock said members against rotation.

5. A pipe or hose coupling including a pair of interfitting' members, lugs on one of said members, a rotatable sleeve on the other of said members, said sleeve having wedging faces to engage said lugs to draw the members together longitudinally, a sealing ring to be compressed between the members by the wedging action to produce a sealed passage through the coupling, and means operable from pressure with the members to lock said sleeve against rotation.

JAMES F. BAGBY. 

